My fathers obituary....

October 2, 2013 officially became the hardest day of my life.  My father Richard E. Odmark passed away.

http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/richardodmark/homepage.aspx

Proud To Be An Odmark

Proud To Be An Odmark

Goal: Reunite with Family

      You may know me as Terra Jole', however my full name is Terra Jole' Odmark.  Born an Odmark, living as an Odmark, but going by Terra Jole'.  This week my goal was to reunite with family.  Considering it's been 18 years since I've seen my cousins on the Odmark side, this was an overdue reunion. 

      We were set to meet at a really cute and trendy bar called off 49th st. called Lillie's.  Allison was visiting to spend time with her brother Jake who is performing in the Spiderman musical here in New York. 

      What do they look like?  Will they get my humor?  We used to get along as kids, but what if I hate them?  What if they are flat out boring?  They knew I didn't grow since the last time they saw me right?  These were the paranoid thoughts going through my head before I met them.  My roommates asked me, "If it's been 18 years, how do you know what they look like?" Basically, if it wasn't for facebook I would have been waiting for two complete strangers to assume they were my cousin because I was the only short broad in the bar.  Thank you Facebook!   

        When we were children we would always spend our summers in Charlevoix, MI where our grandparents resided.  If you've ever visited Charlevoix, MI, you would know what a distinguished city it is.  Everything is green and smells like Christmas pine in the middle of the summer.  Lake Michigan runs along it's side, boats floating through the city which you can see at our grandfathers Pavilion.  Not just any pavilion, The Clarence Odmark Performance Pavilion. 

The Clarence Odmark Pavilion.  Charlevoix, MI

            Every piece of Charlevoix brings memories of happiness.   Meeting up with the two of them brought back the internal joy of being in Charlevoix...even though we were in New York.  All of my stress had been dissolved the moment we said "hello!"  I love them.  They know me.  An immediate sense of connection occurred.  Oddly enough we had similar personalities and without hesitation it was like we were kids in Charlevoix all over again.

        Our entire Odmark family has passed on the music gene.  Both of our grandparents were heavily involved in teaching and conducting.  While my uncle Bob is still making a living in music, my father has retired from the world of music.  It runs in our blood and is something that makes us who we are born in the Odmark family.  Jake is starring in Spiderman the Musical here in New York city, Allison  is a Music Director, Josh Odmark (Jake's twin) has a compilation of techno songs that have been viewed around the world and Abigail, their youngest sister, is a very talented ballet dancer.  My cousin

 Jake, standing beside me, and Allison on the far right.  The last time I was around Jake, he and I were eye level.  Now, his belt buckle is at my eye level.  This man has sprouted to a giant!  What a great experience this was.  Never do I want to go another year without seeing their beautiful faces let alone 18 years.  Looking forward to our next Odmark family outing.  

Terra (on a chair), Jake, Reeve, Allison
**thought you should know the chair part... I dont' know.**

6 Easy Ways To Save A Life!

Peanut Butter Pickles

EtceTerra EtceTerra....

Surrounded by a breed of human beings that strive to be like other human beings.  How can you possibly grow if you’re always striving to limit yourself to someone else’s standards?  You’re the only one blocking yourself from your dreams and goals.  Only a handful of people do what inspires the fire burning inside of them.  What’s stopping you?   Etceterra Etceterra is a solution to my own abnormal standards being released.  Covering fears, dreams, comfort zones, and giving back.  
  

Not only am I not a writer, my videography skills would be just as impressive blindfolded.  A few years ago the creation of a blog with aimless goals and photographs was vastly unsuccessful.  Sidetracked with life and catapulted back to SES (someone else’s standards) put things that inspired me on hold.  No more procrastinating, no more distractions, no more SES.  It’s time to have some inspired creativity.  

This past week was Thanksgiving of 2012.  My contribution to a 5 star dinner party I was graciously invited to was the dessert.  Jumping into the theme of this blog, I tried creating unique deserts.  Have you ever made your own personalized desert?  I failed 5 times, ruined 2 pans, and never knew that sugar could flame up!   There were no excuses.  I experimented until I created a unique desert menu.  It called for:

Peanut Butter Frozen Pickles

Apple Oatmeal Turkey Bacon Crumble with Ice Cream

Pumpkin Seeds and Cranberry Brittle aka Thanksgiving Brittle

Before moving out to Los Angeles, a family actually trusted me to be a nanny for their children.  Ashton age 5 and Addison was 2 years old at the time.  They were both attached to a strict no sugar, no caffeine, no secular music, no fun diet.  One day they begged me for a peanut butter and pickle grilled sandwich.  The first word that came to my mind was YUK!  They both wanted one so bad, they would forfeit television for the day if they didn’t eat it all.  They knew I enjoyed a good negotiation.  Not only did they both eat their half sandwich, but they asked for more!!!

Boggled that this could possibly taste appetizing, I had to try one.  While it was different, it was addictive on many levels.  Sweet, salty, while unleashing small punches of a sour crunch.  Peanut butter pickle grilled sandwiches are now my lunchtime specialty.  

Etceterra etceterra is about striving in what’s unusual around us and held captive in our heads.  How could I make this lunchtime delight a desert?

        This blog is a gift.  A gift of expression and adventure.  I’ve realized by starting this path, my goals are still changing!  Our goals always make adjustments to environments we are roosting in.  Ask an 8 year old child what they hope to do this year.  Most likely they won’t say “buy a new car” or “stop smoking cigarettes.” 

Nothing happens unless first we dream. 

-Marigold Hotel 

Our goals change with age and conditions we are surrounded by.  Not getting ahead of ourselves lets start with this next weeks mission to Save A Life.  There are many ways surrounding you to save a life that  you may not be aware of.  Tune in to see the experience unfold.  Premiering Etceterra Etceterra's first video adventure will take place Wednesday night, December 5th.

          If you are ever inspired to suggest a goal, fear, etceterra, I’m all ears!  Up for any challenge, small or large.  Consider me a Chihuahua with a Rottweiler complex.  This weeks goal was creating my first Thanksgiving desert.  Hope you enjoyed.

Love, Inspiration, and Peanut butter pickles,

Terra Jole'